Car-coupling.



No. 636,428. Patented Nov. 7, I899.

F. GEIGER.

CAR COUPLING.

(A pplication filed June 80, 1899.)

(No Model.)

77 INVENTOR J'wmir a e Attorney WITNESSES STATES CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No. 636. dated November '7, 1899' Application filed June 30, 1899- Serial lfl'0[722,447. (N model.)

To all whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK GEIGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Domerville, in the county of Defiance and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Car-Couplers; andIdoherebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to car-couplers; and it is intended by the use of the same to overcome the numerous dangers incident to the passage between two approaching car ends in the operation of coupling and also the inconveniences arising from the manipulation Of coupling-pins and provide means for the automatic connection of two draw-heads and a disconnection of the same by a device extending outwardly within reaching distance.

The invention consists of a draw-bar having a draw-head thereon, from which a nose projects, provided with a movable bail long enough to project beyond the outer termination of the nose and fit over a companion nose on an opposite draw-head, together with a bail-lifter and means for preventing thelower depression of the same, as well as an upper adjustable support to hold the said bail in suitable elevated position.

The invention further consists of the details of construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

'In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a part of a car end, showing the improved coupler applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the device as shown arranged in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the partsof the upper bail-support.

Referring to the drawings, wherein simi lar numerals are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views, the numeral 1 designates a draw-bar which is adapted to be attached to a car in the ordinary man ner and has a draw-head 2 on the outer end thereof. This draw-head has opposite outwardly-projecting cheeks or blocks 3 disposed on opposite sides and preferably below the upper level of said draw-head. Connectcated and shielded from contact with extraneous devices. To the draw-head a nose 6 is attached and projects forwardly through the central lower part of the recess 5, said nose having a rear securing-shank 7 and an outer upturned end 8, forming a shoulder 9, which merges into a rearward and upward inclined top surface 10. 'lransversely extending through the nose, at a suitable distance in rear of the shoulder 9, is a circular aperture 11, which opens into a substantially triangular recess 12. The said aperture 11 movably receives the lower member of a bail 13, and after the latter is seated in said aperture a triangular block 1:1 is fitted in the recess 12 and secured by a bolt 15, which is disposed at such an angle as not to interfere with the assemblage of the parts specified. The outer or lower surface of the said block 14 is made to conform in contour to the under shape of the nose 6, and by having this block removably attached the bail 13 can be quickly disconnected for the purpose of replacement by another in view of breakage or other damage.

The bail 13 is supported in upright position against too-great rearward throw by an adjustable stop 16, consisting of two members 17 and 18. The member 17 is secured to the draw-head adjacent the arched plate 4 and has the end thereof projecting outwardly, being apertured, as shown by Fig. 3, to receive a clamping-bolt 19, which passes therethrough and into a slot 20 of the member 18. By this means the member 18 may be adjusted inward toward or outward from the draw-head to regulate the angle of support of the bail, and at its outer free end said member 18 is formed with a bifurcation 21 to provide a seat for receiving the free end of the bail. This mechanism controls the sensitiveness of movement of the bail in the coupling operation, and to prevent said bail from dropping below a predetermined horizontal plane a springarm 22 projects outwardly on one side of the nose 6 and has an outer looped free end 23 to catch the bail as it falls and to provide a larger bearing-surface. By this means the bail is obstructed in its downward movement and cannot depend below the nose.

On the side of the nose opposite to that at which the arm 22 is located a bail-lifter is applied and consists of a rod 24, having bearing in the under portion of the check or block 3 and its inner end crooked, as at 25, and movable adjacent the nose 6 below the pivotal plane of the said bail. The outer portion of the rod 2i has bearing in a bracket 26 and terminates in an operating-handle 27, which may be easily reached from the side of the car. To prevent this bail lifter from swinging around in a rearward direction, a stop-arm 28 is provided and has a curved recess 29 therein to receive the crooked end 25 of said lifter and limit the upward movement thereof and also indicate to any one operating said device the proper direction of movement of the handle 27 in order to elevate the bail. The stop-arm 28 is secured to the draw-head in any suitable manner and will be made sufficiently strong to resist sudden shocks or blows.

In the operation of the coupler the bail 13 is first lifted in the position shown in the drawings, if not alreadyarranged, and the nose of the approaching draw head with which a coupling is to be made comes near the opposite nose, and the jar or vibration of the blow causes the bail to drop over the said approaching nose' and engage the shoulder 9, riding upwardly over the inclined surface 10, and subsequently becoming properly seated behind and against the projection 8. The checks or blocks 3 act as bumpers in this coupling operation and project slightly beyond the outer limit of the nose, and therefore prevent two cars from coming closer together than the distance taken up by the said checks or blocks. This will prevent the hail from riding over the nose to such an extent as to cause a disengagement, and when the cars separate the said bail will be forced to ride down the incline and pull against the projection 8. The bail will also accommodate lateral swaying of the cars in rounding curves without danger of breakage, as the loose connection of the nose and hail is such as to overcome a tendency to resisting contacts or jamming at any point.

Where two draw-heads of the character set forth are brought together for coupling purposes, only one bail will be used, or in some instances it might be desirable to have the bails of different sizes on opposite draw-heads and pass through each other and become locked in connection with the opposite noses. If the car containing the improved coupling be connected up with a car having the old form of coupling thereon, the bail can be inserted in the open draw-head and fastened by means of the ordinary coupling-pin.

Changes in the proportions of the several parts, as well as the dimensions and minor details of construction, may be resorted to without in the leastdeparting from the nature or spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a car-coupler, the combination of a draw-head, a nose projecting therefrom with a contacting shoulder at the upper portion thereof, a bail pivoted thereto, and an adjustable stop for supporting the bail in upright position, and a yielding device with looped free end to catch said bail as it falls.

2. In a car-coupler, the combination of a draw-head having a nose projecting from the outer portion thereof and provided with a circular aperture extending transversely therethrough opening into a triangular recess in the bottom, a bail movably mounted in the said circular aperture, and a block removably fitted in the said triangular recess, and an angularlydisposed bolt passed through the nose and block.

3. In a car-coupler, the combination of a draw-head having opposite cheeks or blocks at the outer end, an arched plate connecting the tops of said checks or blocks, a nose confined betwecn the checks or blocks under the arched plate and provided with a contacting shoulder, a bail pivotally mountedin the said nose, means for removably holding the said bail in connection with the nose, an upper adjustable stop for the bail, a supporting-arm on one side of the nose to prevent the bail depending below a predetermined plane, a baillifter on the opposite side, and means for preventing the bail-lifter from being turned rearwardly beyond a certain distance.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK GEIGER.

\Vitnesses:

DEY AYERS, Tnos. ROURKE. 

